With 99 percent of the precincts in, Governor Rick Perry had 51.11% of the primary vote while Bill White received 76.10% of the Democratic primary vote.
Some incumbents who lost last night include Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo with 39.3% of the vote and State Board of Education member Don McLeroy who lost by 839 votes to Thomas Ratliff, son of former state Sen. Bill Ratliff. In District 12 of the State Board of Education, George Clayton won with 51.83% of the vote over Geraldine “Tincy” Miller.
There were twenty-four Texas House members that had primary opponents – 17 Republicans and 7 Democrats. 2 Republican incumbents lost their seat while 2 Republican incumbents will head to the April runoff. A total of 4 Democratic incumbents lost their seat while Norma Chavez and Naomi Gonzalez in HD 76 will be in the runoffs.
Republican Incumbents Who Lost:
HD-7
David Simpson defeated Tommy Merritt with 856 votes. Merritt gained 47.11% of the vote while his opponent Simpson gained 52.88% of the vote. Simpson, who served as mayor of Avinger from 1993 to 1998, says he was drafted by the local Tea Parties.
HD- 4
It appears Betty Brown lost by 108 votes to her former staffer Lance Gooden who received 50.43% of the vote. Insiders expect a recount to be called.
Democratic Incumbents Who Lost:
HD- 27
Dora Olivo receiving 42.35% of the primary vote was defeated by attorney Ron Reynolds who received 57.64%.
HD- 43
Tara Rios Ybarra lost her bid for re-election receiving 43.10% of the vote to Kingsville businessman J.M. Lozano who won the seat with 56.89% of the vote.
HD-100
Dallas attorney Eric Johnson won with 74.64% of the primary votes over incumbent state Rep. Terri Hodge, who pled guilty last month in a citywide corruption scandal. Since there is no one running against him in the general election, Johnson has won HD 100.
HD- 146
Borris Miles defeated incumbent Al Edwards with 11 votes.
Incumbent Runoffs:
HD- 14
Republican state Rep. Fred Brown who received 43.61% of the vote will head to a runoff with rancher Gerald “Buddy” Winn who received 25.80% of the vote.
HD-76
Democratic state Rep. Norma Chavez and El Paso attorney Naomi Gonzalez will continue their battle in next month’s runoff. Gonzalez ended the night with a slight lead gaining 47.72% of the votes, but neither was able to break the 50-percent threshold to avoid a runoff.
HD-83
Republican state Rep. Delwin Jones will face accountant Charles Perry in an April runoff, after winning 39% of the GOP primary vote.
